Improvement in hydrants



NAFETERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D Cy @jjj ggg@

EMI" lf HER, WASHINGTON D C N.PETERs, F

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA REGESTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEM ENT IN HYDRANTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,712, dated June 19,1866.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA REGESTER, of the city and county ofBaltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain novel anduseful Improvements in Hydrants; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is an elevation of the hydrant. Fig. 2is a vertical central section of the hydrant. .Fig 3 is an enlargedsectional view of the bottoln portion ofthe hydrant, showing the valveclosed. Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the valve open. Fig. 5 is atop view ofthe hydrant. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the cone whichsupports the valves.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to certain improve ments on hydrants which havearranged within an `outer shell or case a cylinder with a plungerworking in it for the purpose of effecting the opening and closing ofthe valve which lets on the water.

The object of my invention is mainly to prevent the bursting of pipesleading to and from the hydrant, which frequently occurs in consequenceof a too sudden movement of the valve in letting on and shutting offwater, which causes a recoil and shock of the water in the main andservice pipes.

Another object of my invention is to prevent the passage of sand,gravel, or other substances to the valve whichwould be likely to injureor prevent this valve from closing, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I willdescribe its construction and operation.

The case which incloses the devices used for letting on and shutting offwater may be constructed in any well-known manner; but for variousreasons I prefer to make this case of two sections, A A', each one ofwhich has a half base-support, c, and a suitable number of perforatedlugs, b, formed on it, so that, when the two sections are securedtogether by means of bolts passing through said lugs, the basesnpport a,will sustain and hold in place the cylinder B, as shown in the drawings,Figs. 3 and 4. The cover of the case may be secured in place byclamp-fastenings or by means of a hinge and latch.

The cylinder B is open at its top for receiving a plunger, B', and it isconstructed with an extended base, O, having a circular chamber formedin it and a tubular connection, D, projecting from it. This chamberedcylinderbase receives within it a hollow screw portion, which projectsfrom a perforated cap, D', as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Below this capDis an inverted cone, E, which has a valve or plug, F, screwed into itso as to pass through th'e hole which is made through the center of .thecap. This cone has a flange, c, projecting from its upper end andencircling the bottom 'of the plug F, and in the annular space formed bysaid ange a ring of india-rubber is compressed and held in place so asto form a valve for closing the opening through the cap D when theplunger B is raised, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A number of perforationsare made through the outer edge ot' the cone E, which admit of the freepassage'of water, but prevent the passage through them of gravels orother substances which would prevent the valve ffrom closing snugly.This cone E is thus made to serve as a support and guide for thevalvej'and plug F, and also as a strainer for the hydrant. It is held upto its seat by means of a spring, g, together with the force.

of water acting below it when the plunger B is raised.

The plug or valve Fis nearly or quite cylindrical at and near its base,which cylinder terminates in a tapering neck and an enlarged head, asclearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The hole through the cap D is cylindrical and Haring, the cylindricalportion being slightly larger in diameter than the corresponding portionof the plug F, so that when the latter is slightly depressed by thedescent of the plunger B upon it, and the valvej'is thus caused to leaveits seat, water from the chamber below will gently flow through theopeningthrough the cap D. As the cone and plug are further depressed theilow of water will increase until the full opening is made, as shown inFig. 4, when there will he a maximum ilow. As the plunger rises againthe liow of water through the hole through the cap D will be graduallydiminished until it is finally cut off entirely by the closing of thevalve f. By this simple device there will not be any undue strain uponthe service pipes or mains, as the low of water cannot be suddenly leton or cut olf in operating the hydrant.

An opening is made through the cylinder B, near its base, for receivingthe dischargepipe G, which leads up to an elbow, G', that passes looselythrough the case A', and has a nozzle screwed on it, as shown in Fig. 2.The discharge-pipe Gis made of lead, so that when desired the cylinder Bcan be turned one-half or one-quarter round. Holes should be made atfour points equidistant from each other through the bottom ot' the caseA A', for receiving the pipe-connection D, when it is desired to makeprovision t'or adjusting this pipe.

The plunger-rod H is 'screwed into a loop, h, and secured by a janmiut,h', and this loop h receives a crank-pin which projects from a shortcrank-rod, i, as shown in Fig. 2. The rod L' passes through a tubularbearing, j, which is formed on a ilanged plate, k, and receives on itsouter end a handle, Z. The tubular bearing, with its crank-rod, ispassed through a hole which is made through the case-section A, and theplate k is secured to this section by screws, so as to support thecrank-rod firmly in position. The plate k has two lugs, 7c' 7c',projecting from it, which arrest the handle when the crank is at itshighest or lowest point. The handle l has a lateral lug, k2, formed onit, and it is by means ot' this lug that the arrest of the handle, whenthe crank is at either its highest or lowest position,is insured. It isimportant, in connection with this crank arrangement, to employ stopswhich will indicate when the hydrant is fully open and fully closed.

The crank-rod, plunger, and screw-cap can all be removed or replaced atpleasure when it is desired to get at the valves for repairs. Thisobject is chiefly attained by having the crank-rod i applied to atubular bearin g, which is constructed with a cap or iiange on its outerend, as above described. By this device the cranlcrod and plunger can bereadily removed. Then by means ot' a wrench and hook the cap D can beunscrewed and lifted out of the hydrant-case.

I am aware'ot` John Culvers patent of April 22, i856, and my inventionis an improvement on said Gulvers hydrant.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The construction of the nut D' with an external Bange and with aninternal tlaring passage, in combination with the tapering plugvalve F,packing j', internal cylinder, B, and plunger B', all substantially inthe manner and for the purpose described.

2. Fittingthe plug-valveF in a recessformed in a conical seat, E, whichis perforated near its circumference, all substantially in the mannerand for the purpose herein described.

'3. The combination of the conical seat E, plug-valve F, packingff,perforations in the seat E, and the nut D', all constructed and arrangedsubstantially as described.

4. Securing the pacliingfupon the scat E by meansof a ange, e, andplug-valve F, substantially as described.

5. Applying the crank-rod i to a tubular bearing, j, havin g atlan gedhead, 7c, with stops k' 7c' on its outer end, in combination with acrank arm or handle, l, which has a stop, 7a2, formed on it, all used inconnection with the foregoing features of invention, substantially asand for the purpose herein described.

JOSHUA REGESTER.

Vitnesses ROBERT GARDINER, S. W. REGESTER.

